Improvement in iron fences



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. WICKERSHA'M.

IRON FENCE.

Patented Oct.24,1876.

ZSheets-Sheet Z. J. B. WICKERSHAM.

IRON FENCE. No.183,613. I Patented. 0ct.24=, 1876.

. shaped horizontal bar.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. WIGKERSHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN IRON FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 83,613, dated October24, 1876 application filed Apr1l22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN B. WIGKERSHAM, of the city of Philadelphia,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Iron Fences,of which the following is a specification:

My present improvements relate to means for securing the ends of thehorizontal rails.

In constructing iron fences, it is generally preferable to secure theposts in position before the intermediate railing is connected to theposts. In these cases it is difficult to insert the horizontal bars intoopenings, and properly secure them.

By my improvement each end of the rail or horizontal bars is receivedinto a two-part clamp, when it is open, and secured by screwing theparts together, and these clamps unite the intersecting fences orsurround the posts, and are adapted to the corner or intermediate postsor joints.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of part of a post withthe joint applied thereto, the section being at the line war of Fig. 2,which is a plan view of an end clamping block and post. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of a corner clamp. Fig. 4 shows the clamp as double for anintermediate post. Fig. 5 shows the clamp as adapted to a difl'erent-Fig. 6 is an elevation representing part of a panel with theclamping-blocks applied to the bars thereof. Fig. 7 is a sectional planof the same at the line y y, and Fig. 8 is a section at the line 2 z ofFig. 2.

The expansion and contraction of the bars of an iron fence often tend todisplace the structure, because the connections are unyielding.

I overcome this difficulty by the use of a projecting collar or rubberband, at, around the bar 6, near the end thereof, such collar beingreceived into recesses in the faces of the two-part clamps d and 0, sothat when said clamps are pressed together bya bolt or bolts, 70., theparts will be clamped sufficiently to prevent the bar becomingdisplaced; but they will yield to the powerful force of the bar, as it,expands or contracts lengthwise.

The two-part clamps d e are adapted to grasp the ends of the bars 72where they come together, as at B, Fig. 4, or to connect the end of adivision -fence with the bars of the fence crossing the same, as at 0,Figs. 6 and 7. These clamps will, however, be more generally used uponthe posts, said clamps having holes through them so as to pass over thepost f, which post is usually of gas-tubing, and the clamp is to besecured in its proper vertical position upon the post, by nails driveninto key-seats, as set forth in my Patent No. 135,188, dated January 21,1873; but any other desired means may be employed to hold the clamps tothe posts.

These clamps d e are constructed so as to be adapted to connect therails or bars at the angles of the fence, as in Fig. 3, at the ends ofthe fence, as in Fig. 2, or at an intermediate post, as in Fig. 4; orwhere the rails are bent toward each other, as in Fig. 5, the clamps canbe made smaller, and if the rails are welded togeqher, or to anintermediate block, the bolt it can be passed through them, and in suchcases the hole is to be elongated to allow of expansion and contraction,as aforesaid.-

It will be apparent that, if a metal or other collar, nut, or washer, issecured permanently upon the rails, near their ends, in place of therubber bands, the recesses in the clamps may be made large enough toallow of the motion due to the expansion and contraction of the rails.

The connecting-blocks 0 are not made with key-seats, as in aforesaidpatent, but they have holes through them that allow of the insertion ofthe rails and pickets.

Thinwedges or keys driven in between the block 0 and rail or bar serveto prevent the connecting-block moving.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, in an iron fence, of atwo-part grasping-clamp, the horizontal rails, and elastic materialbetween the rails and clamps, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

2. In an iron fence, the two-part clamp d e, connected by a bolt andprovided with openings, in combination with the post passing throughsuch openings, and the rail received Signed by me thi's21st day ofApril, A-"D; 76.

JOHN B. WIOKERSHAM.

Witnesses:

GEO. '1. PINOKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH.

